Addis Ababa: East African countries should strengthen multilateral cooperation and work together to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, researchers at the Institute of Foreign Affairs underscored. The researchers pointed out that the power competition in East Africa is posing a significant challenge to achieving peace and stability in the region. East Africa is a strategically important area where Europe, the Middle East, and Africa converge, and it is known as a hub for political, economic, and social integration, they said. It is to be recalled that Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the crisis in the region has direct implications for Ethiopia's national interests, particularly in terms of geography and people-to-people ties between Ethiopia and the Middle East. The ministry has also expressed Ethiopia's readiness to collaborate with partner countries and international institutions to address the region's problems in a sustainable manner. A senior researcher at the Africa and Middle E ast Directorate of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohamed Seid emphasized that the problems in the Middle East have a significant impact on the peace and stability of the East African region. He stressed that the power competition in East Africa is a challenge to preventing peace and stability, and that countries should work together to strengthen multilateral cooperation for regional peace and stability. "The instability in the region has a significant impact on overall security. East Africa is an unstable region called the Volatile region. there are a lot of power composition in the region, and with the competition of these forces coming here, it means that the competition in the region is more likely to be aggravated and lead to a high level of conflict," he said. The researchers also noted that the disruption in the trade activity of the Red Sea caused by the tension in the Middle East has affected the economy of Africa and the region. A researcher at the Africa and Middle East Directorate, Mif tah Mohammed, highlighted the historical ties and geographic proximity between the Middle East and East Africa, emphasizing the non-trivial impact of the problems and tensions in the Middle East on the East African region. "What type of connection exists between the countries of the East, Middle East, and the Horn of Africa? Well, the primary reason is that these two regions have maintained a longstanding historical bond. What does this entail? It is a matter of proximity. The close proximity of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East causes an overlap between the two regions. Due to this geographical closeness and topographical adjacency, there is a deep-rooted social cohesion; one characterized by intertwined social relations, migration patterns, social movements, and shared religious practices.", he said. Mohammed Said, Senior Researcher, Africa and Middle East Directorate, Institute of Foreign Affairs said... "The countries in the region must strengthen the multilateral consultation platform. They must u phold their unity. For instance, the empowered IGAD countries should come together to resolve their own regional issues. Furthermore, IGAD had previously launched a project known as the Red Sea Task Force. To protect the region, this task force must be revitalized, their unity must be upheld, and they must develop their own policy framework. Ultimately, this can be achieved through a robust multilateral discussion forum." The researchers also urged Ethiopia to expand its port options to mitigate the pressure caused by the disruption of the Red Sea trade route due to the Middle East issue. In addition, Miftah Mohammed, a researcher at the Africa and Middle East Directorate of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, stated Africa must uphold its own path to achieve peace. Both Ethiopia and the continent of Africa must pursue this course of action to resolve conflicts peacefully. They must build upon the steps they have taken previously. Ethiopia should not delay in this matter. He also stressed that Ethiopia shoul d not solely depend on a single port, but must instead expand its port infrastructure urging the country to continue its effort to bolster the port requests it has already initiated. 'Because in a world lacking in justice, no one else can save you - it ultimately comes down to your own efforts. You must take up this responsibility yourself.' However, he noted that there is also a possibility of the situation in the Middle East stabilizing in the future," Miftah underlined. Therefore, the researchers suggested that East African countries should use multilateral diplomacy to address the problems in the Middle East. They also recommended that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) should cooperate with other regional institutions and actively participate in diplomatic consultations to resolve the issues through dialogue. Additionally, they emphasized the need to reactivate the IGAD Red Sea Task Force to protect the interests of the region. Source: Ethiopian News Agency